RGB vs CMYK: What’s the difference?

Summary

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Outlines

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Mindmap

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Keywords

💡RGB

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue and is a color mode used in digital design. It represents the primary colors of light that are combined in various ways to produce a wide spectrum of colors on screens. In the video, RGB is explained as the mode to use for designs that will be displayed on screens, such as web and app design, as well as for creating vibrant and saturated colors by adjusting the intensity of red, green, and blue light.

💡CYMK

CYMK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black), and is a color mode used in print design. It represents the process of color mixing using ink on a white base, where tiny dots of these four colors are layered to create an image. The video mentions that CMYK is used for physically printed designs to ensure the most accurate color representation, such as in branding, advertising, and merchandise.

💡Color Mixing

Color mixing is the process of combining different colors to create new ones. In the context of the video, it refers to how designers use the RGB and CMYK color modes to mix colors digitally or through ink to achieve desired visual effects. The script discusses how RGB is used for digital screens where light is manipulated, while CMYK uses ink layers for print.

💡Halftones

Halftones are the patterns of dots used in printing to simulate continuous tones. In the video, it is mentioned that a CMYK printer uses halftones to create an image by varying the size of the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink dots. This term is used to illustrate the technical aspect of how color printing works.

💡Saturation

Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. In the video, it is mentioned that designers can control saturation in RGB mode by adjusting the intensity of the red, green, and blue light. This allows for the creation of more vibrant colors on digital screens.

💡Vibrancy

Vibrancy is a term used to describe the vividness or liveliness of a color. The video script explains that RGB mode allows designers to manipulate the vibrancy of colors by controlling the light on the screen, which is crucial for creating visually appealing digital content.

💡Shading

Shading in graphic design refers to the variation in color intensity that gives depth or a sense of three-dimensionality to an image. The video mentions that designers can control shading by modifying the RGB values, which is essential for creating realistic or artistic effects on digital platforms.

💡File Formats

File formats are the digital containers that store information about a file. The video discusses the best file formats for RGB, which include JPEG, Photoshop files, PNG, and GIF, and for CMYK, which are PDFs, Illustrator files, and EPS. These formats are chosen based on their compatibility with the respective color modes and the intended use of the design.

💡Digital Design

Digital design refers to the creation of visual content for digital platforms such as websites, apps, and social media. The video emphasizes that RGB is the color mode to use for digital design due to its ability to display colors accurately on screens.

💡Print Design

Print design is the process of creating visual content for physical printing, such as brochures, posters, and business cards. The video script explains that CMYK is the appropriate color mode for print design to ensure accurate color representation on paper.

💡Professional Designer

A professional designer is someone who specializes in creating visual content and understands the nuances of color theory, design principles, and technical requirements. The video suggests hiring a professional designer for those who want to ensure their designs have perfect colors and align with their vision, mentioning 99designs by Vista as a resource.

Highlights

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Transcripts

Do RGB and CYMY make you think, "WTF?"

They sound like alphabet soup, but they're actually an important part

of the design process.

[Robyn clears throat] By the way,

please spare a thought for your friendly video host, who will have to spend

the next few minutes trying to say R, G, B

and C, M, Y, K over and over again

without getting a stress headache.

So these letters mostly stand for colors,

and they represent different modes for mixing color in graphic design.

Typically, RGB is used in digital design while CMYK is used for print.

In this video, we'll learn more about these color modes

and why you need to know them.

So let's get into it.

Ahhh, the notorious RGB.

What is it, you ask?

RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue.

Artists and scientists experimented with RGB in early color

photography, then later in color television and computers.

Today, RGB is the color mode to use

if your design will be displayed on any kind of screen.

If you take a very, very close look at your color screen,

you can actually see the color split.

That's because the light source within a device, like a computer

or a phone, is part of the process that creates the color,

and it can change the intensity of each red, green and blue value.

Designers can control things like saturation, vibrancy

and shading by modifying any of these three source colors.

And because it's done digitally, the designer can also

manipulate the light on the screen to create the color that they want.

Now you know what RGB is, but when do you use it?

You'll need this color mode when your design project involves

web and app design,

social media posts, online branding and other visual content like this video you're watching.

The best file formats for RGB are

JPEG, Photoshop files, PNG

or everybody's absolute favorite, the GIF.

What about CMYK?

The acronym stands for the ink plates used in color printing,

which are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key

A CMYK printer layers tiny dots of these four colors in varying sizes to create an image.

These dots are called halftones, and if you take a magnifying glass

to a CMYK print, it would look like this.

Fun fact:

Because CMYK requires the base paper to be white,

CMYK printers don't actually print white ink.

So white is just no ink

this stuff can get pretty complicated and technical,

but if you do want to learn more, like how to change your color mode settings,

click the link in the description box below.

So when would you use CMYK instead of RGB?

CMYK is for any design that will be physically printed, i.e.

not viewed on a screen, because that's how you get the most accurate results.

Turn to CMYK if your project involves branding,

advertising, merchandise or any other physical materials.

The best file formats for CMYK are PDFs,

Illustrator files or EPS.

All right.

I'm going to go take a much needed, acronym-induced

lie-down.

what's also known as an MAILD.

It was all worth it, though, because now you know a little bit more

about how color modes work,

you can help

make sure that your design turns out exactly the way that you envisioned.

Basically, all you need to remember is RGB is for digital design

and CMYK is for printed design.

But if all this color mixing info is turning your brain to mush

and you want to be sure that you'll get picture perfect colors

every time, it's best to hire a professional designer.

99designs by Vista can help with that, by the way.

So remember, choosing the right color mode

is how you keep your design’s true colors shining through.

C M Y you later, K?